Yes, it’s that time again. The new year is here, and with it, the annual reflecting and refocusing. It’s more than cliche. It’s reality!

I’m pretty happy with all that I have accomplished in 2013. I’m even happier with all that I have maintained: my health, my happiness, my family, my career, my passions for the things I love. Those are the things that always seem so fragile and vulnerable to change.

I have a busy year ahead. I will be renewing my National Board teaching certification this year, right around the same time that my first (!!!!!) picture book is due to be released. My kids are all growing up so fast…I have no babies in elementary school any more. Now I am a mama on the run– a chauffeur with a to-do list and a pen and an almost-always dead cell phone. One of my dearest friends ties the knot with her love this year, and I am honored to be a part of that. And I’m excited (and terrified) at the prospect of having a brand-new classroom next year, after I spend all of May and June packing up the old one. Seems like an overwhelmingly-full calendar, but I know from experience that I will blink twice, and it will be over.

Today, I tried to resolve that my calendar would just be blank for a while. I tried to stamp my feet on my little soapbox and refuse to set goals or make plans. But it didn’t matter. On the third day of January, Time has already picked me up and carried me, kicking and thrashing, through my anti-resolution tantrum. And she left her inky footprints across my calendar.

Time is like that. I know her. She is a mother with a to-do list.

Happy 2014, everyone!

Thanks for stopping by today! Want some more New Year inspiration? Betsy has today’s Poetry Friday round-up at I Think In Poems.

Or, if you want to get a different kind of jump start, join me in Shannon Abercrombie’s writing challenge, Start the Year Off Write 2014. By participating in daily writing exercises, you earn the chance at some awesome prizes, including critiques and free submission passes with some great editors and agents. Plus, you’ll be working on renewing those writing habits.

What are you waiting for? There’s no better time than now!!! 🙂

16 Responses

Your 2014 sounds full of good plans, Liana! I like the image of Time as “a mother with a to-do list.” 🙂 I’m going to go look at Start the Year Off Write and see what that is — thanks for telling us about it!

Liana

January 3, 2014 at 7:32 pm ·

Glad to share, Tabatha. It looks like a fun challenge. Hope to see you there!

So great to see your post today, Liana. I’ve missed you in these here parts. Those inky footprints do get around, don’t they? I’ll be there with you in “Start the Year Off Write.” Good for you for making the commitment to blog about it!

Liana

January 3, 2014 at 7:29 pm ·

Thanks, Michelle. It’s good to be back. Couldn’t catch my breath there for a while, and it looks like the busy-ness will be returning shortly. I’ve been enjoying your blog posts. Happy New Year to you, and I look forward to writing alongside with you in Start the Year Off Write!

From one full time teacher to another, I’m right there with you on the time challenges. Congratulations on the new book, I can’t wait to read it! I’m going to take a look at Start the Year of Write” to see if it’s something I would like to try. Thanks for sharing it!

Liana

January 3, 2014 at 10:56 pm ·

You’re welcome, Linda! It does look like fun. Best of luck with the rest of your school year, and thanks for stopping by!